(By Sarah Kincaid) – I recently had an email conversation with my future brother-in-law (by the time this is posted, brother-in-law!) about the love of Christ, sinners, compassion, the
In Matthew 22:37-40 Christ responds to a Pharisee’s question about what is the most important commandment and Jesus replies, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest command. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Wow. So a huge part of following Christ, the son of God, is about love. Well Christ is God and God is love, so that makes sense. 1 John 4: 7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” So we should be striving to be love, because God is love.
Yet another thing God is is just, and it is fair to say that we live in an unjust world. Unfortunately, Chicago leads the pack in the country for highest murder rate in 2008. The Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe is responsible for their economic and humanitarian crisis which has caused the nation to face acute shortages of fuel, electricity and medical drugs. The inflation rate — the highest in the world — is 231 million percent. Currently there are 3,000 kidnapped people in Columbia being held hostage by rebel groups. Where is the love in this unjust world?
Just before Christ left this world, after he died for our sins and was resurrected, he gave his disciples some very important instructions. He said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and makes disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So he is saying we are responsible for what happens on this earth? We are supposed to teach others his commandments? And the most important is to love God and love each other?
I guess someone dropped the ball. I think I’ve dropped the ball. But the good news is there is hope. That last line of instructions Christ gives says “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So it is our responsibility, but Christ is saying he will be there. We need him because we can’t love or save. It’s him loving and saving through us. 1 John 4:11-12 “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
These things aren’t easy; loving others. The people we love the most, our family, are usually the people we forget to show love to. And showing justice in an unjust world? Also not easy. But the Lord never said it would be easy. He actually said it would be difficult, but he also said he has overcome. “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33
About the Author
Nate Irvine
Nate Irvine works as the Director of Youth Evangelism and Discipleship for the Metropolitan Division of The Salvation Army. He makes his home on the north side of Chicago, and attends the Irving Park Corps. Graduated from Trinity International University with a BA in Biblical Studies and a minor in Spanish in 2006, he lives to see God's Kingdom here on Earth, and The Salvation Army live true to it's calling. When he's not working, he can probably be found watching hulu, enjoying music, or just hanging out.
Great note…i like how you used so much scripture and brought the challenge to each person because even though it sound corny, the change starts in each one of us.